CANTON - The Massena Central girls lacrosse team got a first-hand look at what it takes to win a New York State championship on Thursday.

They are as good a team as Ive ever seen, said coach Jeffrey Slack after the Lady Raiders dropped a 21-6 decision to top-ranked defending champion CBA-Syracuse in the first round of the state Class C tournament at the SUNY Canton turf. We want to get to their level some day. Thats what were hoping for and we are making progress. Our minor program is coming along in leaps and bounds which is going to be great for us in the long run.

Our girls kept their heads up and we did some good things today, he added. We didnt get a lot of opportunities in the offensive zone, but when we did, we either converted or got a good shot on goal and that was something positive.

The Lady Raiders fell behind 10-0 before Shaydi Oakes controlled a loose ball near midfield and raced in to score a breakaway goal with 11:26 left in the first half. CBA quickly restored the two-goal advantage before back-to-back goals by Steffanie Premo and Erin Francis made it 11-3 with 5:41 remaining. CBA countered with four more goals before the break to put the game well out of reach.

Francis, a junior, highlighted the Massena effort with a three-goal performance, completing her hat trick in the final minute off an assist from classmate Dominique Valancius who finished with a goal and assist along with Oakes and Premo. Shannon Casey contributed an assist.

The Lady Raiders closed out a second straight banner season with a 15-3 record that included an undefeated defense of its NAC regular season title along with a successful defense of Section 10 honors. In two seasons under Slacks guidance, they have gone 31-5 with all five losses coming against non-league rivals.

This team has a lot to be proud of, he noted.

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